The Dutch drone industry now employs more than 3,000 people, up from about 2,300 in 2023, and could reach more than 5,100 by 2030 if growth continues, according to a labour market study that Rijnland Advies carried out for Dutch Drone Delta, Dronewatch reports.
Operations is by far the largest part of the sector, with about 2,100 workers. The researchers expect demand to shift from drone operators towards technicians, engineers, software developers, data analysts and airspace safety specialists as drones fly more on their own.
The 2030 forecast is indicative and counts only the drone industry itself, not organisations that use drones such as the Dutch armed forces, the ANWB or Rijkswaterstaat. From the 2026-2027 school year, eleven vocational schools will teach a Drone Operations Specialist course, with 193 students expected to start.
